Masood Fathi
Associate Professor of Production Engineering
How can factories keep running when energy prices rise, machines break down, or labour conditions change suddenly? The SMART project explores this question by redefining how manufacturing works in Sweden. Its focus is on creating systems that are not only stronger and more adaptable but also environmentally responsible and centred around people.
Led by the University of Skövde, in close collaboration with ABB, Volvo Penta, Daloc, Xylem Manufacturing, and IDC West Sweden, SMART brings together researchers and industry experts to build more resilient manufacturing systems using advanced technologies and practical industry insight.
Purpose of the Project
SMART aims to help manufacturing companies respond effectively to unexpected events. These might include technical failures, energy price volatility, or safety concerns in the workplace.
The project supports the idea of Industry 5.0, which promotes innovation that benefits both people and the planet. SMART's solutions are designed to protect productivity while addressing sustainability and worker well-being.
Three Key Areas of Innovation
The project is divided into three connected parts, each targeting a different challenge within manufacturing:
- Operational Resilience
This area focuses on helping production lines continue operating despite disruptions such as equipment failures or sudden changes in demand. By using predictive models, simulations, and smart planning tools, factories can prepare for challenges and recover quickly when they occur. - Energy Resilience
As energy markets become more unpredictable, it is increasingly important to align production with available and affordable energy. SMART is developing systems that schedule manufacturing activities based on real-time energy prices and renewable energy availability. This reduces both operating costs and environmental impact. - Socio-Technical Resilience
With more robots entering the workplace, there is a growing need for systems that support safe and efficient human-robot collaboration. SMART is designing adaptive safety systems that use sensors and machine learning to prevent accidents and allow flexible task sharing between humans and machines.
Real-World Impact
One of SMART’s greatest strengths is its practical approach. All solutions are developed and tested in collaboration with industrial partners, ensuring they can be applied directly in real production settings. The outcome will be a digital platform combining tools from all three parts of the project.
This platform will help factories monitor, predict, and respond to disruptions while keeping operations stable and efficient.
Supporting the Global Goals
SMART also contributes to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These include:
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
By combining resilience, sustainability, and human-centred design, SMART is laying the foundation for a new generation of manufacturing that is both technologically advanced and socially responsible.
